Charleston is now revving with visitors from all corners of the world, eager to experience the city's rich history, amazing architecture and exquisite gardens during the month long Spring Houses and Gardens Tours. 
Most locals welcome the extra traffic, but some will rather keep to themselves.
Like the King Street's (where else!) majestic "neighborhood greeter". He didn't tell me his real name, but he's quick to point out that four legged visitors just wonder around up and down the street oblivious to rules and order! :-)
Those of you that plan to hang around a little longer please stop by "Sophisticated Whimsy" on Broad Street and "indulge in some free putting lessons" from the town's best golfers. At least we can all agree they are very well dressed :-) 
Happy Travelling in South Carolina!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Charleston's Funny Residents
Sunday, March 30, 2008
World's Smallest Police Station in Ridgeway South Carolina
Ridgeway, South Carolina is home to the smallest police station in the world. Originally built as a watering station for horses, it served as Ridgeway's police station from 1940 to 1990. It's as big as a toll booth!
If you're lucky (or just plain smart!) to travel on scenic highway 34 on your way to Myrtle Beach make sure to check it out. 
In case you are wondering, Ridgeway boasts one of the lowest crime rates in the state and the nation. Don't feel too bad about the size, the police crew was eventually upgraded to a bigger building, located right beside the old one. It has an extra room. Now that's a raise :-)
Travel tip #1: Make sure to go way below the speed limit (25mph) as you're driving through Ridgeway. You can thank me later.
If hungry, go to the Olde Towne Hall (can't miss it, the big red brick building near the police station). The restaurant is located in the original Town Hall whihc was built in 1904 and it still has some of the jail cells in the back. The food is just good ole country cooking: plenty, juicy, meaty and delicious. The chicken wings are "made in Heaven" and the raw fries will bring you to tears (in case you must share).
Travel tip #2: Keep kids entertained by asking them to guess the numebr of Target trucks that will go by. This works best during dinner time. Believe it or not one dinner during Christmas week we counted 6 in row! Only in South Carolina backcountry in the little town named Ridgeway...the center of discount retailing!
Happy Travelling!Wednesday, March 26, 2008
"The Reptile Capital of the World" at your fingertips in North Myrtle Beach
The Alligator Adventure is a must see when you visit North Myrtle Beach.
Housed in the beautiful Barefoot Landing shopping center right in front of famous live music hangout The House of Blues 
, the self-proclaimed "Reptile Capital of the World" is a guaranteed couple hours of wild, educational and fun times for the entire family.
Tips to know before you go
1. Avoid "the alligator fatigue" (there are hundreds spread throughout the zoo) and start your tour at the other end of the park.
Here you'll meet the park's most beloved guest, Bob, the alligator without a tail. Born right here at the zoo he is well taken care off. Check out "The Swamp White Ghost" albino alligators. Legend says 
it will bring you good luck if you see one in the wild.
Other notables: the fake Gharial and the real funny looking chinese Alligators. You can also catch a glimpse of live medical action at the animal hospital.
2. Plan your visit after Spring Break if possible. This is when the live feedings start (alligators don't eat anything during the winter!). As you can imagine the first feeding days of the year will be quite animated. Best time of the day is between 11:00 AM (first feeding) and 1:00 PM (when Utan, the King of Crocs eats). Feeding shows are every 2 hours.
3. Young kids have a blast at the Reptile Show when they can pet snakes, turtles and a baby alligator. Nearby is a snack food stand. If you promise them ice cream they will wait quietly for the show to start.
4. The giant Galapagos turtles are also very popular with children of all ages. The "big puppies 
with shells", love attention and are always on the move. Charlie the male turtle is about 450 pounds. At 40 years old he is considered a teenager, just barely ready to mate.
5. You can get your second day at the park for free. Make sure to check your ticket at the gate before you leave. You can also save a buck or two if you buy your ticket online ahead of time.
Utan, The King of Crocs is by far the park's main attraction . At 20 feet long and weighing in at more than a ton, he is the largest crocodile to ever be exhibited in the United States. In case you're wondering his jaws bite pressure is a mind bogglin 5 tons PSI!
The fully air-conditioned reptile amphitheater, considered one of the best reptile houses in any zoological park, houses an impressive
assortment of exotic snakes, like the giant Green Anaconda. The world's largest snake it can reach an estimated maximum length of over 37 feet. Other cold-blooded cuties are the Retriculated Python (which rivals the Anaconda in size and occasionally preys on deer), the beautiful Green Mamba and the magnificent albino Phyton.
The colorful blue and gold macaw may chat with you if they are in a good mood.Friday, March 21, 2008
"We beat the pants off them" at Fort Moultrie
A short drive from Charleston, Fort Moultrie is most famous for its ingenous palmetto tree wall defense against the British cannon balls, during the June 28, 1776 Revolutionary War battle.
Besides birthing the state flag symbol, another history nugget is that at Fort Moultrie the “We beat the pants off them” aphorism was also coined. Legend has it that Admiral Sir Peter Parker, was hit by a careful placed gun shot by the Patriots that had “hind parts of his breeches shot away, which laid his posterior bare” .
Check out the underground museum featuring the fort's sonar monitoring and communication center during Word War II. Gotta chuckle at the wall posters propaganda calling for citizens money...yep back then "we, the people" had a voice on that kind of funding. From the fort outside grounds you'll get the best view of the Ravenel bridge, now Charleston's most famous landmark. Not far from the fort is the entrance to the pedestrian friendly bridge over-pass, a must do outdoor activity while in town.
Kids will have a blast checking the cannons or just running through the fort's tunnels maze. If that doesn't tire them down there is great playground and picnic park nearby on Isle of Palms.
Where
1214 Middle Street on Sullivan's Island
For directions and more info: www.nps.gov/fomo/
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Sesquicentennial State Park, Columbia
Nestled along I-77 and just minutes from downtown Columbia, the Sesquicentennial State Park , warrants a visit if nothing else for the impossible to pronounce name (that's got to keep kids quiet). We call it "Sesqui".
You can hike, bike, fish, canoe, kayak, camp or just relax at the many picnic tables while watching the geese, ducks, cardinals and the omnipresent gutsy squirrels goofing around. There are two playgrounds for kids, a doggie park and a basketball court. The main attraction? It's quiet, un-crowded and easily accessible from I-77, I-20 or Two Notch Road.
There is a dedicated bike trail several miles long over gently hills. Although unpaved, it has a nice sanded path very easy on the body. You can also bike around the lake; it's a more bumpier ride but the scenery and the chance to see some animal action is well worth it.Catch a well deserved break under the oak trees or by the ever peacefull waterfall.
Make sure to visit the two-story log house, dating back to the mid 1700's, relocated to the park in 1969. This house is believed to be the oldest building still standing in Richland County.
Bird lover or not, you can't stop following these cuties everywhere they go. Papa goose may even entertain you with a folksy mating dance.
You can always play ball with your son, better yet just do nothing.
Breath in and let all your city and office worries melt away.
Where
9564 Two Notch RD, Columbia, SC 29223; Phone: (803) 788-2706 Admissions: $2 adults; $1.25 SC seniors; age 15 & younger free; pets need a $4 park permit; Open daily 8am-6pm (until 9pm DST)
Driving Directions:
- From I-20: Take exit 74. Turn left onto Hwy 1 (Two Notch Rd.), travel N 3 mi, park will be on the right.
- From I-77: Take exit 17. Go N. on Hwy 1 (Two Notch Rd.), for 2 mi. Park will be on the right.
Just Plain Funny in Carolina Backcountry
Photos taken one afternoon in Winnsboro (Cornwallis' short-lived headquarters during Revolutionary War) and along highways 34 and 321.
If you have or know of others (anywhere in South Carolina) feel free to link them to this post.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Cypress Garden – an everyday family gateway, near Charleston
The boat pulls slowly towards the dock radiating a familiar big band tune. Nice, we’re getting radio too. Nope, that was Frank, the boat guide. Even better, we will be serenaded thru the flowered bordered black water swamp meanders. Along the way I learn that Frank, besides being a guide during visiting hours, is also the foreman, a jack of all trades maintenance guy. He takes care of every boat, does the electric, plumbing, carpentry and everything else under sun that’s required to keep things smooth at the swamp. After spending 20 years working at the steel mill, being the foreman at Cypress Garden it’s “a lot of fun”. 
I, along with a family group that includes grandma, mom and two young boys, get settled in one of the flat bottom boats. These were made of California redwood wine casks in 1930’s at the request of Mr. Kittredge, the swamp owner we can now all thank for the privilege to enjoy this masterpiece.
Frank tells us there are no flooding gate "'cause the swamp was made as reservoir for the rice fields” at the Dean Hall Plantation in the 1700s. Rice was “Carolina’s Gold”, the main cash crop and undisputed queen of the Lowcountry that helped built most of Charleston’s beautiful townhouses, plantation homes and beach gateways, and even the furniture, like the city’s popular Thomas Elfe bed. “In my time, I only knew that you grow rice in China” says Frank with a wide smile.
“Look at all the floating hearts!” yells Nathaniel, the energetic little boy next to me. The “hearts” are Atamasco lilies; Cypress Garden boasts the largest concentration in the Southeast thanks to a popular inter-bellum challenge that gave young boys a penny for every lily bulb they would scour from the woods.
We are now in the middle of “Lizzie’s Garden” as Frank calls it fondly. You can tell he is very attached to the Kittredges. “These were good people, you know?...The day they built this garden they let everyone in to enjoy it…I mean everybody…like you and me…back then that was something special, you know?” Legend has it that Mr. Kittredge was mesmerized by a red maple tree striking reflection in the swamp’s famous black waters during one of his duck hunting trips. The rest is history and the garden was born.
We stroll pass the “wedding garden” a popular celebration area and site of “many lavish soirees” in the ‘40s and ‘50s. Frank gently avoids a flamboyant cypress knee. “This is my favorite spot…you can park your boat, take a nap and when the bell rings you know it’s time to go fishin’”. “You fish Frank?” I ask him politely. “Of course! Mr. Frank don’t watch no TV…with all that’s goin’ on I’ll end up like those folks on Judge Judy”. Then he points at a lone magnolia tree. “You should always plant your magnolia tree on the right side of the house. To make lots of money” chuckles he loudly…”when you go back to Charleston watch for all those trees…then you can tell who’s rich or claims [to be] so.”
On our way back it starts raining. Frank points out two shooting scenes from Mel Gibson’s movie “The Patriot”. The bridge is where the militia was hiding waiting for the Red Coats; the island is the location for the “Old Spanish mission in the black water swamp”. As we are getting out Frank is cheering us up with the “I’ll be traveling down the mountain” song. He sounds just like Elvis. We shake hands. Just like his smile, his hands are warm and familiar. Despite the dark clouds and bone chilling rain I feel great. I waive Frank good bye one more time.
He is special, you know?
Interesting facts about the garden
• The adult ticket is only $10; seniors’ ticket is $9; children ages 6-12 is $5 and ones five and under get in for free. Berkeley county residents get free admission (from 9 to 12) on the 3rd Saturday of every month
• The guided tour lasts about half an hour give or take depending on how voluble Frank (or the other guide) is. Boats leave every hour on top of the hour. Don’t worry if you’re not Michael Phelps type swimmer. The swamp is only 3 feet deep and yes you will be provided with life vests.
• Unlike other swamps there are no mosquitoes at Cypress Garden, courtesy to the sap in the water that acts as a repellent.
• You can “safely lose the kids” at the Butterfly House, Aquarium, Reptile Center, Crocodile Isle and Aviary, or at the small replica of an inland rice field.
• There are 4 miles of walking paths and nature trails for outdoor enthusiasts. You should be on the lookout for alligators, the main animal attraction at the garden, although none will bother to venture out in the “freezing” 45 degrees winter temperature. Come May and is a whole different story; no “feeding or harassing” please.
• Besides “The Patriot” there were other famous movies shot here, like “North and South”, “The Notebook”, and “The Yearling”. In fact the SC State Museum in downtown Columbia is featuring an exhibition about all the movies that were shot in South Carolina.
• History lovers can spend more time at The Nesbitt House or the Dean Hall Plantation (just note the original is now in Beaufort SC). If time permits go visit the nearby Magnolia Plantation
• Locals eat at the Barony House few miles out in Moncks Corner, right pass Burger King
Cypress Garden
3030 Cypress Garden Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
For a calendar of events, passes and discounts, driving directions and more visit http://www.cypressgardens.info/ or call (843) 553-0515
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Flight Adventures on the way to Jackson Hole, Wyoming
4:45 AM and it’s pitching dark outside. Pulling out of the driveway almost ran the car into the ditch…guess I’m not awake yet. Minutes later, first time ever, I miss the right turn onto 200 SC highway that joins interstate I-77 towards Charlotte airport. Yep I’m on my way to my long awaited ski trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Even got me new skis, bindings and boots for the big event.
At the Delta checking line, a tall young looking lady visible distressed, lets out an “Oh, no!” as she reluctantly pulls away from the ticket counter. The Delta service person instructs her to go to the “helpline” and wait there. The “helpline” it’s by the smart cart area but nobody is there to “help”. By this time our passenger is in full crying mode and talks frantically on the phone. Till this date I don’t have a clue what happened.
Finally I’m through the security line torture and looking at the information screen can’t help to notice the gate mismatch between the ticket and the screen. “Dazed and confused” I’m now convinced that anything is possible.
I’m trying to kill some time browsing the bookstore next to Starbucks. “Things men wont tell you that you need to know”…that should be an interesting read…flipping through pages I learn that “your husband wants to be your hero”, “men are color blind…don’t ever ask him to choose between purple and mauve” and “first thing your husband wants to do when he gets home from work is to take a leak…please ladies no sob stories about the kids, laundry or the neighbor next door”. Mental note to check this out later.
All right, we are boarding! Grandpa, mom with 2 months old Sally and a 4 years old Sammy have taken the whole row including my seat. Actually that’s not too bad. I’m taking grandpa vis-à-vis aisle seat and start reading the Backpacker magazine I bought a little earlier. I’m immediately drawn to the “Shock and Awe” cover story about two severely wounded Iraq veterans trying to make piece with themselves climbing Mt. Rainier. One is an amputee, the other is blind. The next 30 minutes are an emotional roller-coaster: tearing up reading about the amputee soldier Dunking Donuts encounter with a little boy saying “I prayed for you” and laughing at the home made Valentine Cards he received in Iraq from school kids “To soldier’s for fiting are cuntrey…Hope you fell beteter!" He’s all jollied over “fell”. Turns out he didn’t make it all the way to the top but his fellow soldier did.
“Snack or food?” the flight attendant interrupts. As I give no response she asks again…I mumble “Yes”. “Well which one is it?” she responds patiently. You can tell she is well seasoned. In fact her tag reads “Leader”. From the nicely designed brochure handed earlier I knew “food” meant $5 sandwich; same stuff we used to get for free not too long ago. Intimidated I manage a weak “snack please”. Passing the “food” I wonder what the snack will be. Cheese crackers; that works.
As I’m “indulging” with the crackers can’t help scanning the computer screen one seat ahead. The guy is dutifully doing his email chores. Title reads “PDF not approved and not OK!!!” Ouch! A rebuttal with three exclamation points… that’s gotta hurt. He’s obviously responding to this abomination by pouring in well thought arguments on a page long reply most likely no one will read.
“Becoming Jane” movie it’s over, thank God. We are back starring at the Google-like earth map showing our flight trajectory. There is one dot on the map that reads “Last Chance” over what looks like Colorado. Can’t really get off the plane so I try to ignore the irony and return to my magazine when it happens. Eleven little words catapult me into a hysterically uncontrollable laugh. “Daisy can’t help it: She farts, and the planet gets warmer.”…It’s about small businesses’ creative ways to address global warming, in this case capitalizing on the cow’s perpetual flatulence. My seat mates are amused at first then they get visible annoyed. Tears falling and coughing out loud, hands clapping and with my entire body jerking back and forth I just can’t put a stop to the heresy. “Are you OK?” asks the Leader. I can only point to the culprit article. You can tell she doesn’t get it.
I knew the second leg of the trip, from Salt Lake into Jackson Hole, was a very short flight so not much can happen, right? Wrong. Just as I was putting my seat belt on, the guy sitting on the aisle seat leans over: “You know this is the same [type] plane they crashed into World Trade Center…it says so in the paper”. Dumbfounded I just nod my head. Never had flight phobias before (unlike my husband who few years back had his mom come over to Germany to pick him up ‘cause he couldn’t fly back home alone) but that just puts me upside down. I grab my digital camera and get busy capturing the scenery. The rest of the flight is uneventful.
Passing thru the antlers decorated airport entrance surrounded by the magnifice
nt Grand Tetons Mountains I feel right at home. Waiting at the slow moving and airport’s only baggage claim area I wonder if all that happened that day was just a coincidence. As newly self-proclaimed travel writer and photojournalist, maybe am I now more aware and prone to seeing things, rather than just strolling by from dusk to dawn without a clue on how I spent my time. Either way, something is about to happen.
I gather my stuff, take a deep breath and exit the airport heading for the bus stop.
Gorilla moment
We were all starring at him as he was fiddling with the bamboo leaves and stick. This was a rare treat indeed. The big boys out in plain view less then 4 feet in front of us. Out of the blue Mike raises the stick in the air gladiator style and lets out a shivering holler. He looks menacing as he approaches the crowd. No one dares to make a move. Then without reason turns around and charges at Chalka. Did he just hit him in the head? Chalka, the alpha male and pack leader, refuses to fight and slowly heads up for the hills. As we say back in Romania “the wise man cedes first”. Flabbergasted I try desperately to set the camera on video and hope to capture something. Too late; everything is back to normal. Or so it seems.
This is the moment we all secretly hoped for. A full force display of the “800 pounds gorilla” in thriller motion. Enough with the melancholic stares, mindless fruit and leaves picking and the occasional eye contact piercing Darwinian guilt into your brains. We wanted action! 
"Be careful what you wish for"...a recent National Geographic article - "Minds of their own" clearly demonstrates we are not the only intelligent specie on this planet. And yet although we were only separated by a thin fence I felt we were worlds apart.
Turned around and left with a sour taste in my mouth.
Love Thy Neighbor
One summer evening we were coming home from school. As I was turning the car around the dolphins’ water fountain I caught sight of a 5 feet alligator sunbathing on the little pond beach across the parking lot. I stopped the car, yanked Lana from the seat, and with her in my arms ran the two flights of stairs up to the apartment and grabbed the camera from the kitchen drawer. Thank God it had batteries! Ran downstairs (Lana still in my arms) and looked anxiously at the pond. The 
impenetrable beast didn’t move an inch. Can’t tell why I got so excited. We’ve seen plenty of alligators before, on the Louisiana swamp tour, at the Alligator Land in Myrtle Beach and just recently at the Riverbanks Zoo. Vivid images flashed in my head of back-breaking tons pressure jaw snapping monster that could swallow you whole in an instant. As Lana was getting restless trying to get a better view of the “crocodile” I decided it’s time to find shelter inside.
A month after I moved to Daniel Island I was struggling with the groceries bags. What looked like a bicycle tire laying 3 feet ahead right by the handicap parking started to move slowly towards the apartment building. It was a snake and it was big. Fascinated, I just froze and didn’t even put the bags down. The snake glided through the grass unfazed. Seconds later it was swallowed by the earth in the dusky light. I kept starring waiting for some drama to unfold. Nothing else happened so I reluctantly headed for the stairs. There were plenty of bags left in the car so I had to come back twice. Each time looked anxiously around tiptoeing and hoping my way around through the breezeway. With no sign from my reptilian friend, I was equally relieved and disappointed. Weeks later my mom and my 3 years old were coming back from the Children Water Park when they ran into another snake. This time there was no mistake about it. He was stretched along the road right in front of the Bistro. Maybe he was in for the dinner special. I’m surprised it wasn’t run over by the many cars passing by. My mom and Lana quickly turned around and took the long way home.
This February got a new digital camera, a S700 Fuji FinePix, with 7MP, 10x optical zoom, image stabilization and many other features I’ll probably never use. Thrilled to try my new toy went out for a stroll on the peaceful walkway around the Wando River. On the little bridge in front of the apartments I ran nose to nose with a great white heron. He was magnificent and he knew it. Like a pop diva he let me shoot at will. He even turned around for a close-up. Bet that’s his good side! Bored by my amateurish maneuvers he finally takes off. Few days later I met its cousin the great blue heron. He was resting by the famous alligator pond. Lana knew the drill and we ran inside the apartment and both brought our cameras. I got a great shot as he was fixing to take off. 
To top it all off I had another avian encounter this time with a strikingly beautiful black crow posing on a pole. As I was fiddling with the aperture settings he condescendingly moved his head from side to side starring down at me. "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talkin' to? You talkin' to me? Well I'm the only one here.”
It was late at night. I just passed the Seven Farms and River Landing intersection and could see the lighted oak tree welcoming me home once again. All of the sudden a dog jumped in front of the car and headed into the fields by the fire station. Hmmm…a stray dog…that’s really strange on Daniel Island. I’m glad I didn’t hit it. Never had a road kill before and sure didn’t want to start one now. Then the “dog” turned around and stopped about 30 feet away. He looked right at me as the car headlights were shining on his golden fur coat. At this point I realized it wasn’t a dog but a coyote. I stepped out to get a better look, expecting him to take off any minute. Three more steps. We starred at each other for what seemed like an eternity. He had an inquisitive and melancholic look, not at all afraid but rather curious. A strange sensation of guilt washed over me. The car, the offices, the road and even the lighted tree, all seemed out of place. I turned around feeling uneasy.
During my short stay on Daniel Island I was blessed with more wildlife encounters than in all the years I’ve lived in United States. This place is truly special. They’ve welcomed us into their home and seemed to have done a good job so far keeping the place intimately warm. We are the trespassers, so let’s gracefully accept their challenge in making the island a “home sweet home” for all.
I lost my footing
So I must rest alone
I’m leaving it up to you now
Take good care of the land
Believe me, it’s worth it.
Sunset peace
Fresh cut grass
Wind in the water.
All we need it’s to breathe in
All we need it’s to smile out.
